An out-of-state halau won the overall award at the World Invitational Hula Festival for the first time in the event's 13-year history.

Halau Moanike'ala O Kaulakahi, the hula school led by kumu hula Nalani Keale in Tokyo, received the 'Iolani Luahine Overall Achievement Award at the festival, Nov. 11 to 13 at the Waikiki Shell. The award is given to the group with the top combined score in 'olapa (traditional hula), 'auana (contemporary) and Hawaiian language categories of competition.

Keale also has a Honolulu school, Halau Kaulakahi.

Eleven halau from Hawai'i, New York, California and Japan, including Okinawa, competed in the event, known also by its Hawaiian name, "E Ho'i Mai I Ka Piko Hula (Return to the Source of Hula)."